By Maggie Glass

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) – More than 50,000 public sector employees in Virginia may soon see an increase in their social security benefits.

The “Social Security Fairness Act,” co-sponsored by 7th District Representative Abigail Spanberger, eliminates two policies, the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset.

Enacted back in the 80’s, these policies have reduced some public employees’ social security benefits, including teachers, police officers, and firefighters.

It involves people who receive government pensions from jobs where they did not pay into social security but did pay into it through other jobs or through their spouses.

“We are no longer reducing their earned benefits,” Representative Spanberger said. “They will receive the full amount of social security for which they are eligible for their work experience.”

The bill is just waiting to be signed into law by President Joe Biden.